Summary: Life is like skipping stones, Sometimes you sail freely through it, Sometimes you bump and recover and Sometimes you simply falter. This story highlights all the Cartwrights on their journey through life and how they influence each other.

Rating: K+  WC  3900

Skipping Stones

Life is like skipping stones
Sometimes you sail freely through it
Sometimes you bump and recover and
Sometimes you simply falter.
But what’s most important is whether you can rebound
Rebound and keep going
On and on and on …
Counting your blessings, enjoying each day
Until that time comes
When you are not able to, nor can you,
find the strength to rebound anymore
It is only then that you sink peacefully beneath the surface
Reflecting on the memories of that journey across the water.

 

This story is dedicated to my father, Paul King 1915-2010. I love you, dad, and I will carry you in my heart forever.

 

“Do it again, Pa? Do it again!”

Ben smiled over at his five year old son before bending down to scoop up another rock from the shoreline. He examined it closely as he rubbed it between his fingers, checking for smoothness.

“This one should work,” he simply stated and then turned towards the open lake.

“It’s all in the wrist, son. You want to spin it and aim for the top of the water.”

Ben then thrust his arm forward, sending the rock skimming across the surface.

“One… two…three…four…five…SIX! I counted six skips, Pa. That’s the best one, yet!” Adam jumped up and down with glee. “Can I try, now?”

Ben simply nodded and motioned for his son to step forward.

“Choose your rock.”

Adam’s face suddenly became serious as he scoured the beach. Ben watched as his determined son picked up rock after rock and examined each one carefully. He also chuckled as rock after rock fell disgustingly back down to shore; not at all meeting with his son’s approval. The hunt continued for several moments before the perfect specimen was found. Adam scooped it up in his tiny hand and walked up to the shore.

“Now remember what I told you… aim for the top of the water…”

Adam thrust his arm forward with all his might and released the rock.

“Plop!”

The boy watched sadly as his rock sunk instantly.

Ben immediately approached Adam and put his arm around him.

“That wasn’t bad at all, son. You just have to work on making sure to spin the rock as you release it. It takes time, Adam… and practice.”

Adam looked up at his Pa. “I’ll never be able to do it like you, Pa. Will you show me once more?”

Ben patted his back. “I think we best call it a day, son. There are still chores to do mind you.”

Adam lowered his head and nodded. “Can we come tomorrow then?” he questioned.

“Yes, I think that can be arranged.” Adam raised his head and smiled. “I bet you’ll at least get ten skips next time!”

Ben laughed. “Ten? Well, I’ll try for ten if you’ll at least try for one… deal?”

Adam hung his head. “It’s more fun to watch you, Pa.”

“Deal?” Ben repeated, unrelenting.

Adam paused a moment before answering. “I guess.” He knew full well that if he ever wanted to see his Pa skip stones again, he’d have to at least try, too.

 

Five years later:

Adam sat deep in thought near the shore.

“This is the worst day ever!”

He picked up a smaller rock at his feet and skimmed it effortlessly across the water. He didn’t notice his father approaching from behind.

Ben Cartwright’s anger was masked with the relief of finding his son safe.

“Adam! I’ve been looking for you for over an hour.”

Adam instantly shot up from his seated position and turned to face the agitated voice.

“I’m… I’m… sorry, Pa. I… I… just needed some time to think.”
Ben could tell his boy was obviously upset about something for it surely was out of character for him not to show up on time for his chores.

Ben softened his voice. “What happened, Adam?”

Adam shot a nervous glance towards his father before suddenly bending down and scooping up a rock. He fiddled with it in his hands as he apprehensively answered his father’s question.

“Something happened in school today, Pa, and I just don’t know what to do about it.”

Adam turned and thrust the rock out towards the water, watching it intently as it skimmed along the surface.

His father approached and joined him along the shore. He, too, suddenly felt a need to thrust a rock out into the open water, trying to reign in his anger. It seemed to work because, after a moment, he was able to speak more calmly.

“Well, I’m sure whatever it is, we can work together towards a solution.”

Adam did not respond. He just scooped up another rock and sent it on its journey.

Ben waited, allowing his boy some time.

Suddenly, Adam picked up a rock and shot it high up into the air. Father and son watched its decent as it plummeted instantly down into the water.

“I wish I was THAT rock, Pa. I wish I could just… disappear.”

Adam bowed his head and turned to sit on a log near the shore.

Ben studied his boy for several moments as his mind pondered the question “What could be troubling him so?”

He quietly moved over to his son and sat down next to him. There was complete silence other than the soft sound the water makes as it laps at the shore.

“Son, I’ve had times in my life, too, where I just wanted to hide. I didn’t want to face what I had done, or what had gone wrong. I wanted to be thrown out into the water where I could just disappear from sight. Do you know why?”

Adam just shook his head no.

“Because it was easy… because it wouldn’t require me to face what I had done. I could just disappear beneath the water and never have to answer for my actions.”

Ben paused to allow his son time to reflect.

“But you know, Adam. It’s not a solution. Think for a moment about that rock you just threw. Where is it now?”

Adam shot a puzzled look over towards his pa.

“It’s at the bottom of the lake I suppose.”

Ben nodded. “Yes, at the bottom… the very bottom with no where else to go. Now what?”

Adam shrugged. “I don’t know. At least it doesn’t have to worry about anything anymore.”

“On the contrary, Adam, that rock has not changed. It has simply moved places. You can’t wash away your troubles by hiding from them.”

Ben arose and walked towards the shore. He picked up a rock and skipped it across the water. Both sets of eyes followed its journey in silence.

A moment later, Ben reached down and picked up one more rock. He held it out towards his son.

“Adam, whatever is troubling you, whatever you have done… face it. Face it like that rock skipping across the water. Accept your wrongdoing, knowing there will be consequences for your actions. Face it… and move on.”

Ben waggled the rock in his hand to indicate his desire for his son to step forward and grab hold. Adam hesitated before slowly rising and walking up to receive his father’s gift. He rolled it around his fingers examining every inch of its exterior.

Ben waited and watched.

Adam heaved a huge sigh and apprehensively looked up at his father.

“You’re going to be mad…. and disappointed in me, Pa. I didn’t mean for it to happen… it just happened.”

Ben smiled down at his son, reaching out to touch him on his shoulder.

“Whatever it is, Adam. We can work through it… together.”

Adam smiled up at his Pa and turned towards the water. He released the rock and father and son stood silently watching. When it disappeared from sight, the two turned away from the shore and began walking the direction of home.

Adam only offered a simple “Thanks, Pa,” as they pushed their way through the brush and disappeared amongst the tall pines.

 

Five years later:

“Dadburnit, Adam. I just don’t know how you do it,” Hoss Cartwright stated in amazement. “Every time I try, the darn fool thing just plunks where it landed.”

Adam chuckled.

“Well, little brother it takes time and practice. It’s all in the wrist.”

Adam picked up another rock and effortlessly skimmed it across the surface.

Hoss counted ten skips. Boy his brother was good. He just had to try again, so he bent down and picked up another rock. He looked down at it determined.

“Now you listen here, Mr. Rock. I’m gonna throw you towards the water and I expect ya to skip. Now I ain’t gonna ask you again, so do as you are told.”

With that scolding, Hoss turned towards the water and let the rock go.

“Plunk!”

“Oh, it’s no use, Adam. I’m just not any good.”

Adam smiled and walked over towards his dejected brother. The boy was just nine years old and he already stood eye to eye with him.

“Hoss, you’re not listening to what I’m telling you to do. First of all, you’re throwing it way too hard. You need to put more velocity on it….”

“Veloci…. what?” Hoss interrupted.

“Speed, Hoss. Speed. You must put speed on it while spinning it at the same time. That way when it hits the surface of the water it will bounce back…. like a ball.”

“Spin it you say, huh?”

Adam patted his brother’s back. “Now try it again.”

Hoss grabbed another rock and this time he didn’t waste any breath on it. He just turned towards the water, took aim, and thrust that rock with all his might. The rock hit the surface and skipped ever so slightly before disappearing into the depths of the water.

“Woo hooo! Did ya see that, Adam,? Did ya see it? It skipped. That fool rock skipped!”

Adam laughed out loud. “That it did, little brother… that it did. Now we best get ourselves back home to do our chores.”

“Ah…. but Adam I just started figurin’ this out. Can’t we stay and practice for a little while longer?”

“Now Hoss, you know that whining doesn’t work with me… besides if you keep throwing those rocks so hard, you’ll stretch every muscle out in your arm and pa won’t like it if your arm is too sore to cut kindling.”

Hoss looked down towards the soft sand and kicked at it with his foot.

After a moment, he acknowledged, “It’s already a tad bit sore.”

Adam laughed. “Well, if you come along now, little brother, I think we can find some liniment to rub on that shoulder before you get to work on that wood pile.”

Hoss looked up and smiled. Then the two brothers turned, walking side by side towards home.

 

Five years later:

Hoss Cartwright sat festering over what had just happened between him and his brother.

“Darn that Adam, can’t he do one thing wrong..?”he thought to himself.
“…Just one thing?”

He did not notice his brother approaching from behind.

Adam stood watching for a moment before making his presence known. He knew what was bothering his brother, but he wasn’t quite sure how to solve the issue. Adam was leaving for college very soon and Hoss was worried about stepping up and filling his shoes. That past month had been a bumpy one for the two brothers. Hoss had been quite cantankerous and hard to deal with daily. Adam had been patient, but today his patience had reached its end as he finally let his temper rise. The result being both brothers exchanging blows.

Adam interrupted the silence with a distinct clearing of his throat.

Hoss glanced up, but after seeing who it was, he immediately turned away.

“What do you want anyway?” he muttered.

“Well, don’t you think after that little incident in the barn a moment ago that we need to talk?”

“What’s there to talk about, Adam? What do you care anyhow? You’ll be leaving us soon.”

Adam stepped by his brother and walked up to the shoreline. His eyes scanned the water, reflectively. Several moments passed in silence.

“It’s my leaving, isn’t it?” Adam turned and glanced at his brother over his shoulder.

Hoss immediately looked up stunned. Then the realization of his brother’s words hit him full force and his true fears spilled forth.

“Pa relies on you so much, Adam. We all do. I can’t ever take your place. I just can’t. You’re so smart and you help Pa with the books and all that….”

Hoss hung his head as he reflected on their recent incident.

“I’m… I’m sorry I hit ya, Adam. It tweren’t your fault. I’m just in a foul mood today.”

Adam shot his brother a wry grin. “Today?” before adding, “Apology accepted, brother.”

Then he bent down and picked up a rock on the shore, thrusting it out towards the water and watching it skip along. This gave him an idea. He picked up another rock but this time he turned towards his brother.

“Have you been practicing?” he said.

Hoss watched his brother toss the rock up and down in his hand in a challenging sort of way.

Suddenly a broad gap-tooth grin appeared on his face. “You’re on, Adam. You’re on.”

Hoss eagerly arose and picked up a rock for himself. He stepped up alongside his brother.

“After you, mighty rock slinger of the Ponderosa,” Hoss chided.

“I think we should do it together, Hoss,” Adam simply replied.

“Fair enough, brother. On the count of three…One…. two…. three!”

Both rocks sailed through the air and began their rough journey along the surface. Adam could hear Hoss softly counting as his rock skimmed effortlessly alongside his own. Soon the dual was done and Hoss the mere victor.

Adam turned towards his brother and took a courtly bow. “I crown thee the mighty rock slinger of the Ponderosa.”

Hoss let out a deep chuckle before turning serious. “Adam…”

His words were cut short by his brother grabbing hold of his shoulder and turning his attention out towards the water.

“Hoss, think of those two rocks right now. Think of how they traveled, side by side, each not needing the other. You don’t need me here, Hoss. You don’t need me to hold your hand and guide you.”

Hoss hung his head as he absorbed his brother’s words.

“I guess… I guess I’m just…” His words trailed off as he swallowed hard.

“Scared?” Adam stated before adding, “Well, in all honesty Hoss, so am I…”

Hoss looked over at his brother. “Really?”

Adam simply nodded. “Right now, I’d just like to be that rock sitting peacefully at the bottom of the lake. But, you know what Pa has always told us. Face your problems, take action to resolve them. Ask for help and find a solution.”

Hoss nodded in understanding. “Every problem has a solution… don’t it, Adam?”

“And as Pa says, ‘Make sure to find the good in every problem because actually, there really isn’t any problems… only opportunities.’”

Adam extended his hand out towards his brother. “I’ll try to make the best of my opportunity, Hoss, if you promise to make the best out of yours. Deal?”

Hoss reached out and shook his brother’s hand. “Deal, Adam. It’s a deal.”

A moment later the two began to walk away from the shore. Adam placed his arm on his brother’s shoulder and said, “Now, have you figured out a solution for explaining the mess in the barn and this lovely shiner that’s brewing on my face as we speak?”

Hoss reached over, placing his arm on his brother’s shoulder.

“Nah. I’ll leave that up to you, Adam. You’re much better at explaining things to Pa than I am.”

 

Five years later:

Hoss Cartwright came out of the brush looking for his brother. He paused in disgust as he found him escorting yet another young girl along the water. The two were walking hand in hand and chattering away without a care in the world.

“Dadburnit, Joe,” Hoss muttered under his breath. “I can’t believe he’s at this game again. It’s the third girl this week!”

He then heaved a huge sigh and started heading towards the two lovebirds, unbeknownst to them. But suddenly, he stopped.
“Oh, I might as well let him have his fun before Pa lays into him,” he thought. Hoss quietly veered his path and ducked behind a big rock to watch his brother at work.

The two lovebirds strolled a few steps further before Joe stopped and turned his young girlfriend towards the water.

“Isn’t beautiful here?” he said. “It’s one of my favorite places.”

“Yes, it is beautiful, Joe,” Sarah answered shyly.

Suddenly, Joe turned to face the young girl. He looked deep into her eyes and softly told her, “Your eyes are as deep blue as this water. They sparkle so.”

The girl nervously looked down and giggled. “Oh, Joe,” was all she managed to reply.

“Your hair is as golden as the sun and your lips…” Joe’s words trailed off leaving his thoughts to the imagination.

Hoss had to do all he could not to burst out laughing. For thirteen years old, his brother sure had an eye for the ladies. He stifled his laugh by covering his mouth. Then he leaned forward, trying to hear more of his brother’s romantic verbiage.

The girl turned away. “Joe, I don’t think we should…”

Joe quickly moved around to face her. He raised her chin to make eye contact. “No one will know… except us, Sarah. In fact, it may not happen at all. Remember I have to skip the rock ten times along the surface in order to kiss you. Otherwise, I lose.”

Sarah glanced nervously out towards the water. “…And you promise if you lose you’ll help me every day with my math for a week after school?”

“I’m a man of my word, Sarah.”

“A man…” Hoss muttered under his breath as he continued to watch.

After a moment, Sarah nodded her head slightly and said, “Okay, Joe, but just one kiss if you win.”

Joe clapped his hands together in excitement. Now he had to find the perfect rock. His eyes quickly scanned the shoreline. Soon they fell upon the object they were looking for and Joe immediately bent down to pick it up. He rolled it in his fingers a moment to dislodge the sticking sand. Then he turned towards Sarah. “Ready?”

Sarah again nodded. Joe brought the rock to his lips and gave it a good luck kiss. He winked at Sarah before turning and sending the rock across the water. Both counted in silence.

When the rock sunk beneath the surface it had traveled twelve skips. Joe had won and Sarah owed him that kiss.

He walked up to the now nervous young lady and gently turned her to face him. “Are you ready?”

“Just about as ready as I’ll ever be, Joe Cartwright.” She then closed her eyes and puckered her lips.

Joe smiled. “Now where was I… Oh, yes, your hair is as golden as the sun and your lips…” Joe began to lean into Sarah when, all of a sudden, a well known voice spoke out behind him.

“And your bottoms are going to be as deep red as THAT sunset!”

The young couple instantly separated and turned to face their unwelcomed guest.

“Pa!?” Joe managed to spew as his eyes widened. He grimaced at the expression seen on his father’s face.

Sarah was too shocked to speak. She just stood there with her mouth wide open in amazement.

“Hoss! Hoss! Get out from behind that fool rock and get over here right now,” Ben Cartwright’s voice bellowed.

Hoss immediately popped up, stunned, but quickly complied and came over to stand next to his father.

“I want you to take Miss Sarah home immediately. Give her a chance to explain to her father what has just transpired. If she chooses to not tell him the full story, instruct him that I will be over later this evening to fill him in on the details.”

Sarah swallowed hard as the tears began to appear in her eyes.
Hoss moved ever so kindly over to her and took her by the arm.

“Come on, Sarah. We best get this over with as soon as possible.”

The two turned and walked ever so grimly away.

Joe’s eyes immediately found a grain of sand to focus on as shame cascaded through his body.

Ben Cartwright waited until Hoss and Sarah were out of sight before continuing his conversation with his son.

“Joseph! I cannot believe what my eyes just witnessed here…my son taking advantage of a young lady!”

Joe’s head instantly shot up. “I didn’t take advantage of her, Pa, honest. She agreed to allow me to kiss her.”

“And what exactly did you use as a means for gaining that kiss?”

“It was just a game of chance, Pa. If I could skip a rock ten times across the surface she’d have to kiss me is all. I didn’t see any harm in that.”

“Oh, you don’t, huh? Well, let me see if I can put this in perspective for you, son.”

Ben reached down and picked up a rock. He held it up to Joe.

“I’m going to make a deal with you. The number of times this rock skips along the surface is the number of licks you get!”

“But pa, everyone knows that you can skip a rock across the surface at least…”

Joe’s words fell silent as realization set in.

Ben Cartwright waited for his words to take effect.

Soon tears began to well in Joe’s eyes as he realized just how unfair his little bet had been.

He only managed a soft, “I’m sorry, Pa,” as he waited for his father to skip that rock across the water.

Ben had made his point. He fiddled with the object in his hand for a few moments before letting it fall to the sand at his feet. Joe looked up at his father, stunned.

Ben Cartwright walked over and put his arm around his son. The two started heading for some nearby brush. Both knew what was coming next. As the two entered the secluded area, Joe’s mind was only focused on one thing… that sunset. He unknowingly reached back to rub his bottom, thinking to himself, “I hope it only turns a pale pink.”

 

30 years later

“Do it again, Grandpa? Do it again!”

Ben smiled over at his five year old grandson before bending down to scoop up another rock from the shoreline. He examined it closely as he rubbed it between his fingers, checking for smoothness.

“This one should work,” he simply stated and then turned towards the open lake.

“It’s all in the wrist, Eric. You want to spin it and aim for the top of the water.”

Ben then thrust his arm forward, sending the rock skimming across the surface.